Ranger School

[SR-25]

THE BENNING PHASE

The Benning Phase of Ranger training is designed to assess and then to develop the military skills, physical and mental endurance, stamina, and confidence a soldier must have to successfully accomplish combat missions. It is also designed to teach the Ranger student to properly sustain himself, his subordinates, and maintain his equipment under difficult field conditions during the subsequent phases of Ranger training. If a student is not in TOP PHYSICAL CONDITION when he reports to the Ranger course, he will have extreme difficulty keeping up with the fast pace of Ranger training, especially the initial phase.


The Benning Phase is executed in two parts. The first part conducted at Camp Rogers in the Harmony Church area of Fort Benning. This phase consists of an APFT consisting of 49 Push-ups, 59 Sit-ups, and two mile run in running shoes in 15:12 minutes or less. In addition, applicant must execute six chin-ups (Palms facing toward the face). Combat water survival test (CWST), 5-mile run, 3-mile runs with an obstacle course, a 16-mile foot march, night and day land navigation tests, medical considerations class, rifle bayonet, pugil stick and combatives (hand-to-hand). Advanced physical training assures physical and mental endurance and the stamina required for enhancing basic Ranger characteristics, commitment, confidence and toughness. Additionally, the student completes the water confidence test at Hurley Hill (Victory Pond), terrain association, demolitions, patrol base/ ORP and an airborne refresher jump at Fryar Drop Zone.


The second part of the Benning Phase is conducted at nearby Camp William O. Darby. The emphasis at Camp Darby is on the instruction in and execution of squad combat patrol operations. The Ranger student receives instruction on boxing, fieldcraft training, executes the Darby Queen Obstacle Course and learns the fundamentals of patrolling, the warning order/operations order format and communications. The fundamentals of combat patrol operations include battle drills, ambush and reconnaissance patrols , enter/clear a room, airborne operations, and air assault operations. This phase uses the crawl technique during the FTX, which allows the student to practice the principles and techniques that enables the patrol to successfully conduct reconnaissance and ambush patrol missions. The Ranger student must then demonstrate his expertise through a series of cadre and student led tactical patrol operations. As a result, the Ranger student gains tactical and technical proficiency, confidence in himself and prepares to move to the next phase of the course--the Mountain Phase. Following the Benning Phase students are transported to Camp Frank D. Merrill, Dahlonega, Ga.

THE MOUNTAIN PHASE

During the Mountain Phase, students receive instruction on military mountaineering tasks as well as techniques for employing a squad and platoon for continuous combat patrol operations in a mountainous environment. They further develop their ability to command and control a platoon size patrol through planning, preparing , and executing a variety of combat patrol missions. The Ranger student continues to learn how to sustain himself and his subordinates in the adverse conditions of the mountains. The rugged terrain, severe weather, hunger, mental and physical fatigue, and the emotional stress that the student encounters afford him the opportunity to gauge his own capabilities and limitations as well as that of his "Ranger Buddies". In addition to combat patrol operations, the Ranger student receives five days of training on military mountaineering. During the first three days of mountaineering (Lower) he learns about knots, belays, anchor points, rope management and the basic fundamentals of climbing and rappelling. His mountaineering training culminates with a two day exercise (Upper) at Yonah Mountain applying the skills learned during Lower Mountaineering. Each student must make all prescribed climbs to include a 200-foot night rappel at Yonah Mountain to continue in the Course. During the two FTXs, Ranger students also perform patrol missions requiring the use of their mountaineering skills.


Combat patrol missions are directed against a conventionally equipped threat force in a low intensity conflict scenario. These patrol missions are conducted both day and night over a four day squad field training exercise (FTX) and a platoon five day FTX that includes moving cross country over mountains, conducting vehicle ambushes, raiding communications/mortar sites, and conducting a river crossing or scaling a steep sloped mountain. The Ranger student reaches his objective in several ways: Cross-country movement, air assaults into small landing zones on the sides of mountains or an 8-10 mile foot march over the Tennessee Valley Divide (TVD). The stamina and commitment of the Ranger student is stressed to the maximum. At any time, he may be selected to lead tired, hungry, physically expended students to accomplish yet another combat patrol mission.


At the conclusion of the Mountain Phase, the students move by bus or parachute assault into the Third and final (Florida) Phase of Ranger training, conducted at Camp Rudder, near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
THE FLORIDA PHASE





The third or capstone Phase of Ranger School is conducted at Camp James E. Rudder (Auxiliary Field #6), Eglin AFB, Florida. Emphasis during this phase is to continue the development of the Ranger student's combat arms functional skills. He must be capable of operating effectively under conditions of extreme mental and physical stress. This is accomplished through practical exercises in extended platoon level patrol operations in a Jungle/Swamp environment. Training further develops the students' ability to plan for and lead small units on independent and coordinated airborne, air assault, small boat, ship to shore, and dismounted combat patrol operations in a low‑intensity combat environment against a well trained, sophisticated enemy.



The Florida Phase continues the progressive, realistic OPFOR scenario. As the scenario develops, the students receive "In‑Country" technique training that assists them in accomplishing the tactical missions in the phase. Technique training includes: small boat operations, ship to shore operations, expedient stream crossing techniques, and skills needed to survive and operate in a jungle/swamp environment.



The Ranger students are updated on the scenario that eventually commits the unit to combat during techniques training. The 10‑day FTX is a fast‑paced, highly stressful, challenging exercise in which the students are evaluated on their ability to apply small unit tactics/techniques. They apply the tactics/techniques of raids and ambushes to accomplish their missions. Upon completion of the Florida Phase of training, students conduct a airborne insertion into Fort Benning.



SUMMARY



High standards are required and maintained despite the stressful environment in Ranger training. The Ranger course produces a mentally hardened soldier, who possesses an enhanced capability to perform combat arms related associated functional skills and is more confident in his ability to overcome obstacles, withstand the stresses of combat and accomplish his mission under extremely adverse conditions.

During the Ranger course, the Ranger proves he can overcome seemingly insurmountable mental and physical challenges. He has demonstrated, while under simulated combat conditions, that he has acquired the professional skills and techniques necessary to plan, organize, coordinate, and conduct small unit operations. He has demonstrated that he has mastered basic skills needed to plan and execute dismounted small‑unit day and night operations, low altitude mountaineering, and infiltration as well as exfiltration techniques via land, air, and sea. As a result of proving that he can successfully accomplish these tasks during the Ranger course, he is authorized to wear the Ranger Tab.

[Ram0528]

This was from an article bard posted:

One of Morrison's greatest challenges came not from any Marine Corps training, but from Army Ranger school. "They get you to a point where you don't know your own name," he said, slightly blushing as he recounts the tale.

"After one patrol where I had been a patrol leader, I hallucinated. When you're the patrol leader, you get such a big adrenaline rush. We were on our way back after the patrol, just an administrative march, and I came down hard. I saw a chow truck on the side of the road. There was a beautiful woman there serving food, and she asked who was the leader of these Rangers. I said I was and started to go over for something to eat," he explained, as his embarrassment becomes more apparent.
"As I was walking over, a friend asked me where I was going... so I told him. He told me there was nothing there and when I turned back around, it was gone."

Just found it interesting & thought i"d post it here

I have to admit, I've had some pretty wierd and interesting hallucinations myself.

But I would say, that you would get to a point where you could sleep, standing up, or even marching for that matter.
The most terrifying moment for me was, being in a formation while we were getting our usual combination brief and smoke session.
And then, I came to, and was standing alone.

I have seen Ranger studs try to call home from pine trees, one in particular walked up to me and started sort of poking me in the chest...turns out the bonehead thought I was a coke machine and was trying to put money in me!

I was no better when I went through...I once caused a break in contact in the Swamp Phase because I was talking to a bush!
Prolly would have snapped out of it sooner, but the bush kept responding with interesting points of view!

[Ram0528]

Ranger School is just that....a school. Serving in the Regiment you have to go thru RIP..

Originally Posted by Ram0528

Ranger School is just that....a school. Serving in the Regiment you have to go thru RIP..

So...you'll be dropping by soon then?

And incidentally Capster, in the mid-90's four men in one patrol died on the same night in Florida(Swamp) Phase, student deaths are tragic and are certainly not deliberate and this is not a point of pride among the cadre by any means but training deaths do occur in Ranger School and they occur in Reg also.
The training is not only tough and realistic but it is also hazardous.
In my experience alone as an RI, I know of at least a dozen tragic deaths in Ranger School alone.In the Ranger Regiment more men have died in training than many units lost in Vietnam.I have not compromised OPSEC here by sharing this...the congressional inquiries have seen to that.
Failure to follow instructions can result in non-habit forming consequences for Ranger students.This is why many of the "Big Army" think we have asshole attitudes.
It's also why we always capitalize "Ranger", you don't have to... Covertness has taken time to explain the prevailing attitude of the board here and I shall do my best to comply whenever I drop in for a visit.
But maybe this post explains a bit more of my outlook towards our friend Mr Fleischman et al. concerning the beret for all complex.
I'll try to tone down a bit because if any of you young men are truly interested in taking the step toward Ranger...perhaps I can help advise you.
You have to take it seriously though, fair enough?
If you are not yet even in the Army withold your comments and advice on Ranger or SF please.It's not only counter-productive but it brings unwarranted attention on you.
PFC Fleischman, you're a lucky bastard to get the opportunity to "walk on", it's nothing against you but you are going to run into some hardasses that had to get their opportunities the hard way.Sorry about that shit.Just the way it is.
And it happens quickly too, doesn't it?
Sorry about the long post but I seem to have ruffled a feather or two and I'd like to make amends.
Now fuck off and have a nice day.

[Infantrymen]

Sorry about the long post but I seem to have ruffled a feather or two and I'd like to make amends.
Now fuck off and have a nice day.

[Covertness]

Thanks for your presence Kilted Heathen.

And just to reiterate; Ram, not everybody who serves in a Bat goes through RIP. Ever hear of ROP?

I used Ram as an example but if you don't know what you're talking about, kindly keep your pie holes shut.

[Ram0528]

my bad Covert, forgot about ROP....Lesson learned

[Ramey]

All I know is that went I went to PRC...Kilted Heathen seemed to me like he couldnt lead a patrol out of a paper bag, let alone a squad of CSS and ROTC pukes out of Darby...


Man I hope I never run into that guy again